Rohr regrets fielding Iheanacho against Argentina, says Eagles unlucky

Following their unfortunate exit from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr believes the 2-1 defeat to Argentina was due to luck being far from his team, but regrets naming Kelechi Iheanacho in the starting XI.

Iheanacho, who played alongside Ahmed Musa in the attack, was not able to convert the chances he had to score, but the coach reveals the Leicester City star was not fit for the game.

A first-half goal by Lionel Messi and a late winner by Marcos Rojo made of no effect the converted penalty of Victor Moses and sent the Eagles packing from the competition.

“It was a little bit down to luck and we didn’t have it today,” Rohr said in his post-match interview.

Read Also: Mikel says ‘young teammates’ will be ready for Qatar 2022

“We did so well. We had the problem of having one day less than Argentina to prepare. Perhaps, at the end of the match, that was dangerous.

“Everybody did well. The goal was coming. When I see what happened in the first half, perhaps I wouldn’t start with the same team because Iheanacho wasn’t fit,” the German technician explained.

The Super Eagles also had opportunities to score in the second half, but Odion Ighalo, who came in for Iheanacho at the start of the final half, failed to convert clear chances.

Nigeria finished third in Group D above Iceland, while Croatia and Argentina finished as winners and runners-up respectively.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now